I need a history lesson, tell me about the victory

[amazin steve]

I know nothing about the victory model. Why did they have them in ww2 when they had 1911s and 1917s. It seems they were issued to the navy and air force why?

 

[Art Doc]

Most were sent to Great Britain, Australia, Canada, etc. as they needed any and all weapons they could get. Revolvers issued to US forces secondary at best as the 1911 was the standard sidearm. Seems the 38 was popular with pilots for some reason. Recall George Bush's Victory he carried in WW II that is now in a museum.

Those made for GB were generally 5" barrel guns in 38 S&W and the American versions were most often 4" 38 Specials.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Colt couldn't build enough 1911A1s to arm all of the troops. S&W didn't build any 1917s for WW II and a lot of the ones built for WW I were surplused when it was over.

The Navy and the Army Air Corps/Army Air Force wanted to arm their forces, but didn't feel that 1911A1s were necessary. Marine Air Wings issued a lot of Victory models as well.

 

[Jack Flash]

Don't forget that factories making the M1911 were working to capacity day and night. Machinery and machinists were straining to turn out all they could --- and other factories were "drafted" into service in an attempt to meet demand. Ever heard of an M1911 made by Singer Sewing Machine Company? Many companies who made typewriters, juke boxes, you name it, geared up to make various small arms. No stone was left unturned in the war effort.

Against this backdrop, it is easy to see how the revolver-making machinery and expertise at S&W and Colt would not be overlooked. Revolvers were easier to master than the M1911, and many US service men probably prefered them. IIRC, countries like England, Austrailia, and New Zealand had revolvers as their standard issue side arms anyway, so it was a natural to provide them with S&Ws and Colts chambered for their service round.

 

[scha]

The complete history of the Smith & Wesson British Service Revolvers and Victory Model is explained in U.S. Handguns of World War II by Charles W. Pate. This is an excellent and detailed record of these revolvers.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[opoefc]

AmazingSteve, Another book that covers Victory models is "America's Right Arm, The S&W Military & Police revolver" by John Henwood. The best advice I ever got as a young collector was Jim Serven's suggestion: Whenever you buy a gun, buy a book. Read the book, You will eventually sell or trade the gun, but what you learn from the book will always stay with you!" Boy, was Jim ever right! Ed #15

 

[scha]

Ed. I agree on getting good books. My limited library includes:

History of Smith & Wesson , Roy Jinks
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd Edition, Supica and Nahas
Smith & Wesson 1857-1945 , Neal & Jinks
US Handguns of WWII, Charles Pate
Smith & Wesson Handguns, McHenry & Roper
America's Right Arm, Henwood

I enjoy reading all of them.

Steve

 

[opoefc]

Steve, That's a good start. Now you need to add " Smith & Wesson Revolvers" by John E. Parsons; "Smith & Wesson American Model" by Chas. Pate; "Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting" by Ed McGivern, and "Smith & Wesson Handguns" by McHenry & Roper. And don't forget to get all the back issues if the S&WCA Journals and the 4 vols. of the Journal reprints. Study them all, there will be a test! Ed.